PIA Press ReleaseThursday, January 12, 2012

DOH-7 to set up medical teams during Sinulog

by Hazel Gloria

CEBU CITY, January 12 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH-7) in Central Visayas will set up 22 or more medical teams in the Sinulog procession route on January 14 and Sinulog celebration on January 15.

Health Emergency Management program coordinator Dr. Expedito Medalla, said each team is composed of a doctor, nurse, paramedics, communicator and a driver.

"There are one hundred or more people joining the emergency medical teams," Medalla continued.

Aside from the medical booths, DOH-7 is also coordinating with the Cebu Medical Society and other private and public hospitals to monitor emergency situations during the feast of Sr. Sto Niño.

In yesterday’s AGIO-7 Forum held at DOH-7 compound, Medalla requested the people who will join the procession and watch the Sinulog parade to be careful with their health. They should bring food, water or juices, medicines and other things they needed to prevent any health problems.

“For those people who are not feeling well, I would suggest that they just stay in-house and watch the event on tv,” he added.

On the other hand, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) leads the emergency responding team which is composed of Philippine Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF), Basak Pardo Emergency Response and other medical groups.

Medalla also informed the media that they sent letter requests to all hospitals in Cebu City and nearby places to implement code white starting January 14 to 15 for them to be ready in any emergency situations during the Sinulog celebrations.

The DOH-7 also reported that there were no big injuries that happened in last year’s Sinulog celebration and it hopes for a peaceful and injury-free Sinulog this year.(mbcn/hfg/PIA-7)